ColumbiaDoctors Radiology is committed to Directions to ColumbiaDoctors Radiology - columbiaradiology.org providing the highest standard of care, participating in both clinical and research imaging. PET Center Facility We offer Clinical PET/CT imaging for: Our PET Center facility is conveniently located at 722 W168th Street (Mailman School of Public Health) on the R1 floor. Cancers utilizing: F-18 FDG, 18-F NaF, 18-F Parking is available at the Milstein entrance or you may park fluciclovine, and Ga-68 dotatate at the hospital lot on Fort Washington Avenue between Cardiology utilizing: F-18 FDG and 13-N ammonia 164th and 165th Streets. For public transportation, you can Brain disorders utilizing: F-18 FDG, 18F-florbetapir, take the A, C, or 1 subway lines or the M2, M3, M4, M5, 18F-flutemetamol, 18F-florbetaben M100, or BX7 bus lines to W168th Street. Clinical research projects apply PET imaging for monitoring therapeutic responses in cancer patients. Handicap Access is located to the left of the stairs at Our research is collaborative and is conducted across the front of the building. Columbia University departments, Institutes, and Industry. We have 3 state of the art Siemens BioGraph mCT Flow PET/CT scanners with FlowMotion Technology equipped with 64 slice diagnostic CT scanners. Some of the features include: • The ability to provide the finest detail for every organ in every scan with FlowMotion, which improves accuracy • Innovative solutions that allow the lowest dose to be administered, while still scanning patients faster than ever before. And by reducing dose and increasing speed, patient safety is improved. What is a PET scan? • A large 78 cm bore, short tunnel and a 227 kg A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an (500 lb) table capacity to improve patient comfort imaging test that helps reveal how your tissues and and accessibility. organs are functioning. A PET scan uses a radioactive About Your PET-CT Exam drug (tracer) to show this activity. The tracer may be injected or inhaled, depending on A Guide for Adult & Pediatric Patients which organ or tissue is being studied by the PET scan. The tracer collects in areas of your body that have higher levels of chemical activity, which often correspond to areas of disease. On a PET scan, these areas show up as bright spots. The pictures from a Appointment Date:______PET scan provide information different from that uncovered by other types of scans, such as PET Center Appointment Time:______computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic 722 West 168th Street • R1 Floor resonance imaging (MRI). A PET scan or a combined (Mailman School of Public Health) On the day of your appointment, if you are running late PET/CT scan enables your doctor to better diagnose your condition. New York, NY 10032 or unable to make your appointment, please call us at Appointment Scheduling: 212-326-8518 212-342-2899 option #4. A PET scan is useful in revealing or evaluating several columbiaradiology.org conditions, including some cancers, heart disease and brain disorders. Cancer before your scan. This will allow time for the solution compared with the potential benefits. But the tracer • Type I diabetes mellitus and insulin-dependent type Cancer cells show up as bright spots on PET scans to move into your bowels (intestines). might: II diabetes mellitus because they have a higher metabolic rate than do • Please relax and limit your movement during this • Cause an allergic reaction, in rare instances o The study should preferably be performed late normal cells. PET scans may be useful in: time and stay warm. You can sleep, listen to music, • Expose your unborn baby to radiation if you are morning or midday: • Detecting cancer or watch videos in the area provided for you. pregnant - 6 hours after injection of rapid-acting insulin However, if you are receiving a brain PET scan, do • Revealing whether your cancer has spread • Expose your child to radiation if you are breast- (Humalog, Novolog, and Apidra) or short not watch videos or listen to music. These activities feeding acting insulin (regular, novolin, or velosulin). • Checking whether a cancer treatment is working stimulate certain areas of your brain and may - 12 hours after the subcutaneous injection of • Finding a cancer recurrence interfere with the results of your scan. Follow your specific PET scan preparation intermediate-acting (NPH) and/or long- • When you are ready, you'll lie on a narrow, padded below for best results: acting insulin , such as Lantus, Toujeo, Heart disease table that slides into the scanner. During the scan Basaglar, Levemir, and Tresiba. PET scans can reveal areas of decreased blood flow in you'll need to lie very still so that the images aren't For scans that use 18F-FDG: - The study is not recommended on the same the heart. This information can help you and your blurred because movement could affect the results day after injection of intermediate-acting • Do not eat anything for 6 hours before you arrive for doctor decide, for example, whether you might benefit of the PET s can. The scan will take 20 to 40 minutes. (NPH) and/or long-acting insulin your scan. You may drink only water. from a procedure to open clogged heart arteries • The entire process will take about 2 hours. o For rapid and short acting insulin: Eat a normal • (angioplasty) or coronary artery bypass surgery. Do not chew gum or suck on hard candy, mints, breakfast 6 hours before your appointment and . What happens after the PET scan? or cough drops inject the normal amount of insulin. Do not Brain disorders After your PET scan, a very small amount of radioactive • You may drink only water, preferably 32-64 oz. 2 consume any more food or fluids, apart from the PET scans can be used to evaluate certain brain sugar will remain in your body. So, be sure to drink hours prior to your appointment prescribed amount of water. disorders, such as tumors, Alzheimer's disease, and plenty of water to help flush it out your system. You • If you take medications, take them with water only . • Patients on continuous insulin infusion seizures. don't need to follow any special dietary restrictions or Your last meal before the scan should include high o The study should be scheduled for early in the guidelines after your PET scan. protein foods and plenty of water. Avoid carbohydrates morning. and foods with sugar. Because PET scans read your What does the equipment look like? A radiologist or other physician who has specialized o The insulin pump should be switched off for at sugar metabolism, eating sugar/carbohydrates could A PET/CT scanner is a large machine with a round, training in nuclear medicine will interpret the images least 4 h prior to the appointment. and forward a report to your referring physician. Your affect the results of your scan. doughnut shaped hole in the middle, similar to a CT or o You can have breakfast after the study and switch MRI unit. doctor will receive your PET scan results afterwards, Stay warm - It is important that you stay warm the day and will share them at your next appointment. on continuous insulin infusion. The computer workstation that processes the imaging before and the day of your scan. This prevents a information is located in a separate control room, special type of fat from becoming active, which can For scans with 18-F NaF, F-18 beta amyloid where the technologist operates the scanner and What are the Benefits vs. Risks? make it hard for the physician to read your PET scan. imaging (18F-florbetapir, 18F-flutemetamol, monitors your examination in direct visual contact and • In the winter, dress extra warmly. Wear hats, scarves, 18F-florbetaben): Benefits the ability to hear and talk to you with the use of a gloves, and extra layers. • Please drink water, preferably 32-64 oz. 2 hours prior • PET/CT examinations provide unique information— speaker and microphone. • In the summer, avoid turning on your air conditioner to your appointment. including details on both function and anatomic to very high. You should not feel cold, or have cold • No other preparation is required. structure of the body that is often unattainable using hands or feet. What happens during a PET scan? other imaging procedures. It's also important that you don't exercise for 24 hours For scans 18-F fluciclovine: • Depending on your type of scan, your finger may be • By identifying changes in the body at the cellular before your PET scan. That's because exercise affects • Do not eat anything for 4 hours before you arrive for pricked or blood will be drawn from your arm to level, PET imaging may detect the early onset of the radiotracer's reading and could cause the results to your scan. You may drink only water. measure your blood sugar level. Your blood sugar disease before it is evident on other imaging tests be inaccurate. • Please drink water, preferably 32-64 oz. 2 hours prior level needs to be between 60 mg/dL and 199 such as CT or MRI. mg/dL. If your level is 200 mg/dL or above, your to your appointment. procedure may need to be rescheduled. Your nurse • Greater convenience for the patient who undergoes Diabetic Patients: • No other preparation is required will speak with you about this. two exams (CT & PET) at one sitting, rather than at Insulin can affect the results of your scan. Please follow two different times. the guidelines below. For scans that use Ga-68 dotatate: • You will be given a radioactive medication called a • Please consult with your physician if you are tracer through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. • Type II diabetes mellitus (controlled by oral Risks receiving octreotide therapy. Some tracers require you to wait in a room for 40-60 medication) Because the doses of radiotracer administered are minutes. o The study should preferably be performed in the • Please drink water, preferably 32-64 oz. 2 hours prior small, diagnostic PET/CT procedures result in relatively late morning. to your appointment. • You may need to drink contrast for your scan. You low radiation exposure to the patient, acceptable for • No other preparation is required. will start drinking the oral contrast 45 to 60 minutes diagnostic exams. Thus, the radiation risk is very low o Continue to take oral medication to control your blood sugar.